Thomasville City Council sets hearing on budget

Monday

May 20, 2013 at 10:22 PM

THOMASVILLE | Thomasville has come a long way in the past several years, the city's manager said Monday night.

BY NASH DUNNThe Dispatch

THOMASVILLE | Thomasville has come a long way in the past several years, the city's manager said Monday night. Since 2005, when state officials criticized the city for its financial decisions, the city has grown its unreserved fund balance, or reserves, from nearly nothing to more than 20 percent of expenditures.City manager Kelly Craver said the last fiscal year was also a good one, adding that staff is recommending maintaining the city's current 56 cents per $100 of valuation property tax rate.Thomasville City Council will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. on June 3 on the Fiscal Year 2013-14 budget at the police department at 7 W. Guilford St. Action on the budget is scheduled for June 17 during the council's regular council meeting. Council set the public hearing during its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday night.While the budget recommends no property tax increase, the water and sewer rate is slated to increase by about 3.59 percent. Craver has said the increase falls in line with the city's current rate study. Water and sewer tap fees will not increase, according to the city's budget message. There are no increases recommended for the city's planning and inspections, motor vehicle, or solid waste disposal fees.Additionally, a 2 percent cost of living adjustment for all employees, which becomes effective July 1, is included in this budget year, according to the city's budget message. New, recommended capital expenses included in the budget are five police patrol cars ($180,765), one police unmarked car ($25,380), one fire department vehicle ($35,000), a fire department exhaust system ($20,000), one rear loading garbage truck ($172,500), and a computer upgrade ($40,000), among others. Other recommended capital expenditures include nearly $1.39 million in funding for the replacement of the clear well roof systems at the water treatment plant. "This has been needed for 10 years and will be completed and paid without financing the project," according to the city's budget message. Thomasville is recommending raising fees for the city-owned Winding Creek Golf Course by $1 per round, which will go into effect July 1. The recommended increase will not impact youth rates, according to the city's budget message.The total combined recommended budget for FY 2013-14 is about $38.1 million for all city personnel, operations, equipment, capital improvements and debt service, according to the budget. Incentive hearings Thomasville City Council also set public hearings on June 17 for two economic development projects.The request, brought forth by the Davidson County Economic Development Commission, is for council to approve economic development incentive packages for Project Z13 and Project Hem. Craver said the incentives would be five-year packages that would be equal to .0028 times the companies' amount of new investment. No additional details on the packages were available at the meeting. Last week, Davidson County Commissioners approved up to $29,700 in incentives for Project Z13 and up to $31,050 for Project Hem.In other business, council: • Approved a capital project ordinance for the North Hamby Sanitary Sewer Outfall capital project, which calls for the installation of about 9,300 linear feet of sewer line from Baptist Children's Home Road to the northeast. The total project is expected to cost about $3.156 million, with about $2.71 million coming from a state wastewater revolving loan. • Presented a key to the city to Thomasville City Schools Superintendent Keith Tobin, who announced earlier this month that he will retire at the end of the school year.Nash Dunn can be reached at 249-3981, ext, 227or at nash.dunn@the-dispatch.com.